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40 Meanwhile, the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev[a] in the land of Canaan, heard of the approach of the Israelis, 41 who had traveled from Mount Hor and then rested in Zalmonah.
42 They traveled from Zalmonah, then rested in Punon.
43 They traveled from Punon, then rested in Oboth.
44 They traveled from Oboth, then rested in Iye-abarim at the outskirts of Moab.
45 They traveled from Iyim, then rested in Dibon-gad.
46 They traveled from Dibon-gad, then rested in Almon-diblathaim.
47 They traveled from Almon-diblathaim, then rested in the mountains of Abarim, facing Nebo.
48 They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, then rested in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
49 They rested by the Jordan River in the area from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
50 Then the Lord told Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho, 51 “Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River to the land of Canaan, 52 they are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their idols and their molten images. You are to demolish all their high places, 53 take possession of the land, and live in it, because I’ve given you the land to inherit. 54 You are to divide the land among yourselves by lot according to your families. The larger the families are in number,[b] the larger their inheritance is to be. The fewer the families are in number,[c] the lesser their inheritance is to be. To whomever the lot falls, that inheritance goes to him. Divide it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 But if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, their survivors will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, to prick your sides and afflict you in the very land in which you’ll be living. 56 Then, what I had planned to do to them, I’ll start to do to you.”
Boundaries of the Land
34 The Lord told Moses, 2 “Issue these orders to the Israelis: ‘You’re about to enter the land of Canaan. This territory has been apportioned to you as your inheritance: the entire land of Canaan, all the way to its borders.’”
The Southern Border of Israel
3 “‘To your south is the Wilderness of Zin, bordering Edom. Your southern border is to extend east toward the far end of the Dead[d] Sea, 4 then it is to turn southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, cross Zin, and then run south of Kadesh-barnea and proceed from there to Hazar-addar and across to Azmon. 5 Then the border is to turn from Azmon toward the wadi[e] of Egypt and from there to the Mediterranean[f] Sea.’”
The Western Border of Israel
6 “‘The western[g] border is to be the Mediterranean[h] Sea. This is to be the western border.’”
The Northern Border of Israel
7 “‘Your northern border is to extend from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor. 8 From Mount Hor, you are to mark out the entrance to Hammath, with the border running through Zedad, 9 then through Ziphron, and then to Hazar-enan. This is to be the northern border.’”
The Eastern Border of Israel
10 “‘You are to mark the border on the east from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 The border is then to extend from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, then to the Sea of Chinnereth[i] on the east. 12 The border is to continue along the Jordan River all the way to the Dead Sea. This is to be your land, as measured by its boundaries.’”
Assigning Tribal Responsibilities
13 Moses commanded the Israelis, “You are to inherit this land by lot, just as the Lord commanded to give it to the remaining[j] nine and a half tribes. 14 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, as defined by their ancestral houses, have received their inheritance. 15 These two and a half tribes received their inheritance this side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho, facing the rising sun.”
16 Then the Lord told Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who are to divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Nun’s son Joshua. 18 You are to appoint a leader from each tribe to divide the land for inheritance. 19 These are the names of the men: Appoint Jephunneh’s son Caleb from the tribe of Judah, 20 Ammihud’s son Shemuel from the tribe of Simeon, 21 Chislon’s son Elidad from the tribe of Benjamin, 22 and Jogli’s son Bukki is to be leader of the tribe of Dan. 23 From the tribe of Joseph, you are to appoint Ephod’s son Hanniel to be leader of the half tribe of Manasseh, 24 Shiphtan’s son Kemuel to be leader of the half tribe of Ephraim, 25 Parnach’s son Elizaphan to be leader of the tribe of Zebulun, 26 Azzan’s son Paltiel to be leader of the tribe of Issachar, 27 Shelomi’s son Ahihud to be leader of the tribe of Asher, 28 and Ammihud’s son Pedahel to be leader of the tribe of Naphtali.”
29 These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance of the Israelis in the land of Canaan.
Levitical Cities
35 The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near[k] Jericho, 2 “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. 3 The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands[l] are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. 4 The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits[m] from the walls of the town. 5 You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits,[n] on the south side 2,000 cubits,[o] on the west side 2,000 cubits,[p] and on the north side 2,000 cubits,[q] with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing[r] land for their towns. 6 You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns. 7 The total number of towns that you are to give to the descendants of Levi is to be 48 towns, including grazing lands surrounding these towns. 8 You are to apportion the towns that you will be giving the Israelis according to the relative size of the tribe. Take a larger portion from those larger in number and a lesser portion from those fewer in number. Each is to set aside towns for the descendants of Levi proportional to the size of their inheritance that they receive.”
Appointment of Cities of Refuge
9 Then the Lord told Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 11 they are to designate some towns of refuge so that anyone who kills someone inadvertently may flee there. 12 They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger[s] in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community. 13 You are to set aside six towns of refuge. 14 Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge, 15 that is, places[t] of refuge for the Israelis, the resident alien,[u] and any travelers among them. Anyone who kills a person inadvertently may flee there.”
Exceptions to Eligibility
16 “Whoever uses an iron implement to kill someone is to be adjudged[v] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 17 Furthermore, whoever uses a stone implement to kill someone is to be adjudged[w] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 18 Also, whoever uses a wooden implement to kill someone with it is to be adjudged[x] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 19 The blood avenger himself is to execute the murderer. When he meets him, the blood avenger[y] is to put him to death. 20 If the killer[z] shoved his victim[aa] out of hatred, or hurled something[ab] at him while waiting in ambush so that he died, 21 or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he died, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him.”
Case Examples for Eligibility
22 “But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something[ac] in his direction without waiting in ambush, 23 or if he hit him[ad] with a stone carelessly[ae] so that he was fatally injured, though he isn’t his enemy and he wasn’t seeking to commit evil against him, 24 then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. 25 The community is to release[af] the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil. 26 But if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled 27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder. 28 The inadvertent killer[ag] is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance. 29 These are to be the statutes and ordinances for you throughout all your generations, regardless of where you live.”[ah]
Capital Cases Require Multiple Witnesses
30 “Every murderer of a human being[ai] is to be executed only according to testimony[aj] given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence.[ak] 31 You are to receive no ransom for the life[al] of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. 32 You are not to receive payment of a[am] ransom for someone who had fled to a town of refuge but then left to live in his homeland before the death of the high priest. 33 You are not to pollute the land where you live, because blood defiles the land, and the land cannot atone for blood that has been spilled on it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it. 34 You are not to defile the land where you will be living, because I’m living among you. I am the Lord, who lives in Israel.”
Jesus Cleanses a Leper(A)
12 One day, while Jesus[a] was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
13 So Jesus[b] reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to. Be clean!” Instantly the leprosy left him. 14 Then Jesus[c] ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities.”[d] 15 But the news about Jesus[e] spread even more, and many crowds began gathering to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 16 However, he continued his habit of retiring to deserted places and praying.
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man(B)
17 One day, as Jesus[f] was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law happened to be sitting nearby. The people[g] had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present to heal them.[h] 18 Some men were bringing a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to take him into the house[i] and place him in front of Jesus.[j] 19 When they couldn’t find a way to get him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on his stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the room,[k] right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus[l] saw their faith, he said, “Mister,[m] your sins are forgiven.”
21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to argue among themselves, saying, “Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Because Jesus knew that they were arguing, he asked them, “Why are you arguing about this among yourselves?[n] 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so you’ll know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” he told the paralyzed man, “I say to you: Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home!” 25 So the man[o] immediately stood up in front of them and picked up what he had been lying on. Then he went home, praising God.
26 Amazement seized all the people, and they began to praise God. They were filled with fear[p] and declared, “We have seen wonderful things today!”
Jesus Calls Levi(C)
27 After that, Jesus[q] went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector’s desk. He told him, “Follow me!” 28 So Levi[r] left everything behind, got up, and followed him.
To the Director: A song. Lyrics[a] by David.
A Song of Praise to God
65 In Zion, God, praise silently awaits you,
and vows will be paid to you.
2 Since you hear prayer,
everybody will come to you.
3 My acts of iniquity—they overwhelm me!
Our transgressions—you blot them out!
4 How blessed is the one you choose,
the one you cause to live in your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
yes, even with the holiness of your Temple.
5 With awesome deeds of justice[b]
you will answer us, God our Deliverer;
you are[c] the confidence for everyone at the ends of the earth,
even for those far away overseas.
6 The One who established the mountains by his strength
is clothed with omnipotence.
7 He calmed the roar of seas,
the roaring of the waves,
and the turmoil of the peoples.
8 Those living at the furthest ends of the earth[d] are seized by fear because of your miraculous deeds.
You make the going forth of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
9 You take care of the earth,
you water it,
and you enrich it greatly with the river of God that overflows with water.
You provide grain for them,
for you have ordained it this way.
10 You fill the furrows of the field with water
so that their ridges overflow.
You soften them with rain showers;
their sprouts you have blessed.
11 You crown the year with your goodness;
your footsteps drop prosperity behind them.
12 The wilderness pastures drip with dew,[e]
and the hills wrap themselves with joy.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are covered with grain.
They shout for joy;
yes, they burst out in song!
23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.
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